How to Get Emojis on Samsung Galaxy J7

This guide shows you how to enable and use the emoji keyboard on your Samsung Galaxy J7, including accessing hidden emoji sets and troubleshooting common issues. You’ll learn the exact steps to start sending emojis in any app, from messages to social media.

What You’ll Need

Your Samsung Galaxy J7 (any variant: J7, J7 Prime, J7 2016, etc.)
The device should be running Android 5.1 or later (most J7 models ship with Android 6.0 or 7.0)
No additional apps are required – the emoji keyboard is built in, but you may need to enable it in settings

Step-by-Step

Open any app that uses text input – for example, Messages, WhatsApp, or the Chrome address bar. Tap on a text field to bring up the keyboard.
Locate the emoji key – On the Samsung keyboard, look for a smiley face icon (😊) usually located to the left of the spacebar or on the bottom row. Tap it once to open the emoji panel.
If you don’t see the emoji key, you may need to switch to the Samsung keyboard. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification shade, then tap “Select input method” (or the keyboard icon in the bottom-right corner). Choose “Samsung Keyboard” from the list.
Browse emoji categories – Once the emoji panel is open, you’ll see tabs at the bottom: Recent, Smileys, Animals, Food, Activities, Travel, Objects, Symbols, and Flags. Swipe left or right to scroll through the available emojis within each category.
Insert an emoji – Tap on any emoji to insert it into your text. It will appear in the text field immediately.
Enable the emoji key if it’s missing – If the smiley face is not on your keyboard, go to Settings → General Management → Language and Input → On-screen keyboard → Samsung Keyboard → Layout. Toggle on “Emoji key” (or “Emoticon key”) to add it to the keyboard layout.
Use emojis in any app – Once enabled, the emoji key appears in all apps that use the Samsung keyboard, so you can insert emojis in text messages, emails, social media posts, and more.
Alternative: Use Google Keyboard (Gboard) – If you prefer a different emoji set, install Gboard from the Play Store. Open Gboard, go to Settings → Languages, and enable the emoji keyboard. Then select Gboard as your input method to access a wider variety of emojis.

Common Mistakes

Not switching to the Samsung keyboard – If you’re using a third-party keyboard like SwiftKey, the emoji key may be in a different location or not present. Always check which keyboard is active.
Forgetting to enable the emoji key in settings – On some J7 models, the emoji key is hidden by default. You must manually toggle it on in the keyboard layout settings.
Looking for emojis in the wrong place – Emojis are not in the regular number/symbols page; they have their own dedicated panel accessed via the smiley face icon.
Assuming all emojis are free – While the standard emoji set is free, some third-party keyboards offer sticker packs that require purchase. Stick with the built-in Samsung emojis to avoid charges.

Tips

Use the search bar – Some Samsung keyboard versions have a search icon (magnifying glass) at the top of the emoji panel. Tap it and type a keyword like “heart” or “pizza” to find the emoji quickly.
Access frequently used emojis – The “Recent” tab shows your most recently used emojis, so you can quickly tap them again without scrolling.
Long-press for variations – On many emojis, you can long-press to see skin tone variations (for people emojis) or alternative styles (like different heart colors).
Update your device – Make sure your J7 is running the latest Android version available for it. Software updates often bring new emoji sets and keyboard improvements.
Clear keyboard cache if issues persist – Go to Settings → Apps → Samsung Keyboard → Storage → Clear Cache. This can fix missing emoji or keyboard glitches.

Troubleshooting

Emoji key still not appearing after enabling it in settings?

Restart your phone – a simple reboot often refreshes the keyboard settings.
Check if you have the latest Samsung Keyboard update. Go to Settings → Apps → Samsung Keyboard → App details in Galaxy Store, and update if available.
If you’re using a custom theme, it might hide the emoji key. Switch back to the default theme temporarily to test.

Emojis appear as boxes or question marks?

This usually means the app or system doesn’t support the newer emoji characters. Update the app you’re using (e.g., WhatsApp, Facebook) from the Play Store.
If the problem is system-wide, your J7’s Android version may be too old to display newer emojis. Consider installing a third-party keyboard like Gboard that includes its own emoji font.

Emoji panel is blank or not loading?

Force stop the keyboard: Go to Settings → Apps → Samsung Keyboard → Force Stop, then reopen a text field.
Clear the keyboard’s data (Settings → Apps → Samsung Keyboard → Storage → Clear Data). Note: this resets your custom dictionary and settings.
If the issue persists, restart your phone in Safe Mode (hold Power, then tap and hold “Power off” until the Safe Mode prompt appears). If emojis work in Safe Mode, a third-party app is interfering. Uninstall recently installed apps.

Can’t find the emoji key on the physical keyboard?

The J7’s physical keyboard (if you use a Bluetooth or wired keyboard) may not have an emoji key. Use the on-screen keyboard instead, or press the Globe/Emoji key on the physical keyboard if it has one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the Samsung Galaxy J7 have emojis?
A: Yes, all J7 models have a built-in emoji keyboard. You just need to enable the emoji key in the Samsung Keyboard settings if it’s not visible by default.

Q: How do I get the emoji keyboard on my Samsung J7?
A: Open any text field, tap the smiley face icon on the keyboard. If you don’t see it, go to Settings → General Management → Language and Input → On-screen keyboard → Samsung Keyboard → Layout and toggle on “Emoji key”.

Q: Why are my emojis showing as blank boxes?
A: This usually means the app or system doesn’t support the newest emoji characters. Update the app you’re using, or install Gboard which has its own emoji font that works on older Android versions.

Q: Can I add more emojis to my Samsung J7?
A: You can install third-party keyboards like Gboard or SwiftKey from the Play Store, which offer larger emoji libraries and sticker packs. The built-in Samsung keyboard only has the standard emoji set.

Q: How do I use emojis in WhatsApp on my J7?
A: Open a chat, tap the text field, then tap the smiley face icon on the Samsung keyboard. If you’re using a different keyboard, look for the emoji icon (often a smiley or globe) near the spacebar.

Q: Are emojis free on Samsung Galaxy J7?
A: Yes, the built-in emoji keyboard is completely free. Some third-party sticker packs may cost money, but standard emojis are always free.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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